Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-11

dredS were turned
ROBERT S. ROBERTSON. away. The pressure
for admission to the floor of the house was
tremendous, but the doorkeepers had been
well drilled, and refused entrance to all not
entitled TO admission by the rules OF the
house
The joint convention was called TO order
at 1890 and every attempt of the Democrats
TO gain recognition was met by the avowal
that they were out of order and no business
would be transacted until the canvass of the
vote for lieutenant governor was finished
This being done and Robertson being de-
clared elected, he assembled to the speakers
desk and took the gavel The appearance of
Robertson in the chair, gavel in hand, acted
upon the imaginations of the Democrats on
the floor like an application of laughing gas
A dozen Democrats were on their feet In an
instant gesticulating like madmen, moving
up and down the aisles like so many Gagged
tigers, and shouting "Mr. Speaker at the
top of their voices.
Pandemonium reigned supreme on the floor
and in the galleries as well, and the scene for
fully fifteen minutes beggars description
Time and time again did Col Robertson es-
say to speak, but he might as well have talked
~ dl doSclllDiaSS VI ucd1 IOi MS nIlAle
were completely lost in the chaos of distract
ing sounds which filed the hall Every time
he moved his lips Kisses were showered upon
him by the Democrats on the floor of the
house and their sympathizers in the galleries.
which in turn were drowned out under the
lusty volume of applause which poured from
the threats OF Republicans below and above.
Finally there came a hrisf lull in the tenn
past, whereupon the doughty Robertson,
reading from manuscript, was heard to say:
Gentlemen of the house of representatives
and senate of Indiana
Jewett as quick as q flash, pointing TO the
Republican senators, shouted: II that is
the senate of the state of Indiana, then | say
God help the state of Indiana" The hull of
an instant was ever, and beilam was come
again. Robertson's lips were observed to
move, but no words that he said could be dis
tinguished. The Democrats were shouting
Mr.. Speaker the Republicans were de
manding order; the gavel was resounding
upon the desk with sonorous whacks: the
galleries were crazy with excitement and in
dignation, and it seemed As if everybody
PRESENT, senator's, representatives, specta-
tors, and all, had suddenly taken leave of
their senses Again did oyertaxed nature
assert herself. and the roar and tumult par
tally subsded for a few seconds owing TO
pure exhaustion on the part of the mob for
it was nothing less. Col Robertson made
another venture with his speech, repeating
the Introductory sentence. Jewett had got
his second wind, and, advancing toward the
chair with flushed face and angry gestures,
CALCULATED: Il know that this person has
no authority to preside over the house of
representatives,, even if he is the lieutenant
governor of twenty states"
Robertson directed the sergeant-at-arms to
compel Jewett, Gordon and the other disor-
derby members to take their seats This Off
cial started to execute the order, but the of
tenders declined to recognize his authority or
that of Col. Robertson, and refused to be
seated until commanded by the speaker
| Again Robertson began his speech but with
no better success than before While he was
reading from manuscript Jewett was heard
above the din and uproar to say: Il enter
my solemn protest against this outrage
You have packed the galleries so that we can
not have a fair show. The rag-tag and bob
tail of the senate have come in here and
claim to be the senate The whole proceed
ing is Infamous
Robertson continued reading his speech,
| amid confusion worse COMPOUNDED while
Representative Patten, advancing toward
| the chair on the Democratic side of the house,
suddenly turned and foced his associates,
shouting: Il move to adjourn" Then put
ting the motion himself, and calling out a
shower of ayes, he declared the motion car
ried, and the minority, with perhaps half a
dozen exceptions, started pell-meH for the
doors. The advance guard of the would-be
boilers tried the doors, but found them
| locked, and one of them cried, ave are pris-
oners, the doors are locked whereupon an
other shouted, Let's break them down. but
| the suggestion was not carried out, and in
the meantime Col Robertson had concluded
his address Having delivered his inaug-
ural he adjournde the joint conven-
| ton in the same cool and collected
manner which had characterized him
throughout the trying ordeal, and
handed the gavel to the speaker Of the
house. Immediately the hall became as
husbed as the grave, not a word was uttered
| for few moments, and then a motion to adj
iourn was made but the Democrats began
| leaving the hall and refused to vote The
| speaker announced that they were com
| PEELED to, and directed that a record be made
of the refusal of those who were among those
who demanded the roll-ca This brought
them to a realization of their position, and
several of them, including Messrs. Custer and
| Cox, came back and voted, while Jewett,
Gordon, and Kellison we're still among the
missing
At the afternoon session the Democrats
introduced a resolution reciting the several
matters connected with the lieutenant gov.
ernorship controversy and resolving that
the matters should be submitted to the su-
preme court to the end that the legality of
Robertson's election might be passed upon
| by that body, but after discussion OF
nearly four hours the resolution was lost by
a strict party vote.
Treasurer elect Lemcke formally notified
Treasurer Cooper not to pay ont any money
on the order of State Senator Smith, as pre-.
siding officer of the senate, saying that he
would not receive them in settlement next
month, when the state treasury is turned
over to him. This will make another com
plication in the matter and will hasten ar
adjustment, as no senator can draw his pay
on Smiths order"
NAMED THE CAUCUS DAY.